The 30 second story
Anthropic has updated Claude to autonomously control computers through its Code and Cowork artificial intelligence tools. The new feature can open files, use web browsers and applications, and run development tools without setup, even when users are away from their computers. Anthropic describes this as a research preview, though the announcement does not specify pricing or UK availability details.
Why it matters
Computer control represents a fundamental shift in how artificial intelligence can handle business tasks. Instead of generating text responses that humans must act upon, Claude can now execute the actions directly. This eliminates the manual transfer of artificial intelligence outputs into actual work, reducing the time lag between getting an answer and implementing it. For UK businesses, this means artificial intelligence can now handle complete workflows rather than individual steps, transforming it from a consultation tool into an execution partner that can manage entire sequences of computer-based tasks autonomously.
Be transparent about it
Claude’s computer control capabilities mean it can access and interact with all the data and applications on your machine. Colleagues and clients should know when Claude is operating on your behalf, particularly if it’s handling shared documents or sending communications. Tell people that artificial intelligence is controlling tasks, explain what it’s doing, and share relevant outputs. Recording or processing others’ data without consent can breach UK data protection rules, and transparency builds trust when people understand how artificial intelligence is being used in your business processes.
What this means for your business
- Manual transfer of artificial intelligence insights into action becomes unnecessary, cutting the time between analysis and execution
- Repetitive computer tasks can run continuously without human supervision, extending productive hours beyond office time
- The distinction between artificial intelligence consultation and artificial intelligence execution disappears, making automation possible for workflows that previously required human oversight
- Computer-based business processes become candidates for full automation rather than just artificial intelligence assistance